Pneumatically-operated molding machine



Nam 2 9 W2@ LQ@ v D. J. CAMPBELL.

- PNEUMATIGALLY OPERTED MOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19. 1925 5 Shee'ts-Sheei l Il?. J. CAMPBELL PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED IVIOLDINGMACHINE Eileld Jan. 19. 192e 5 shams-sheet 2 Nw., 2 w26., www@ D. J. CAMPBELL PNEUMATIGALLY OPERATED MOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1925 5 Sheeks-Sheeh 5 lml n Mmm 2 9 H92@ D. J. CAMPBELL PNEUMATICALLY OPERATED MOLDING MACHINE 'Filed Jan. 19, 1925 5 Sheets-Shes? `L NMI@ LJUQ@ J.. QAMPBELL.

PNEUMATIGALLY OPERATED MOLDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheryl'l Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD J'. CAMPBELL, 01? M'USXEGON HEIGHTS,.MICHIGAN.

rNEUMArIeALLY-ornnarnn MoLnING MACHINE.

Application led January 19, 1925. Serial No. 3,313.

rlhis invention relates to molding apparatus being more particularly dlrected to a novel construction of molding machine wherein a pneumatically actuated jarring of' the flask and sand therein may be obtained,

. together with a squeezing of the sand at 'the upper part of the mold while the vibration operation is being completed, the squeezing also being attained by pneumatic means, after which the moldmay be drawn from the pattern also through pneumatic operation. 1t is a primary object and purpose of the invention to construct a molding machine of this character and to equip the same with many novel details of construction whereby the jarring may occur either with the mechanism in lower position or in upper position or during the time of itsA movement from upward to lower position, it not being necessary that the jarring and squeezing shall be distinctly separated in the matter of the times during which they operate, this being a feature of value in connection with the apparatus, in that the operator is not necessarily restricted in his control of the apparatus and also because of better results obtained from simultaneous jarring and squeezing. Many novel details of construction and arrangement of p arts for edectively attaining the above descrlbed ends, as well as many others not at this time enumerated, will be apparent as understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the molding machine or apparatus made in accordance with my invention, the flask being partly broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the plane of line 2 2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the manually operative valve mechanism for controlling the passage of compressed air to the vibrator and for the operation of squeezing.

F ig. 4 is a vertical section on the plane of line 4-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a like View but showing the operation of squeezing the sand in the upper portion of the mold, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane of the broken line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

parts in the different gures of the drawings.

1n the construction of the apparatus, a lower casting is provided including a heavy base 1 which is adapted to rest or be secured to the foundry floor from which, between its ends, a vertical cylinder 2 extends upwardly, the base at the lower end of this cylinder being preferably elevated and of convex shape as indicated at 3.r .At a number of points around the cylinder (four being shown) and adjacent the upper open end thereof lugs 4 are integrally cast, the same extending radially outward. To each lug a vertically extending pin 5 is secured at its lower end, serving as a means to hold and guide strong coiled springs 6 which rThere are also cast integral with the cylin-l der 2, at diametrically opposed points, two additional lugs 7 with vertical openings therethrough suitably hushed for a purpose which will later appear. ln addition toward each end of the base 1 and in alignment with the lugs 7 are two vertical cylinders 8 of smaller diameter cast integral with the base. Strengthening ribs or walls 9 are disposed between the cylinders 8 and the cylinder 2, the same extending upwardly to the height of the lugs 4, preferably.

At the outer side of each cylinder 8 a vertical support 10 in the form of a strong casting is secured, the upper end of which is divided to make two spaced apart ears 11 and from adjacent the upper end of the support but below the ears 11 two lugs 12 extend outwardly opposite to each other. Adjusting screws 13 are passed through these lugs. A rod 14 threaded at its upper end is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a suitable pivot 15 which passes through the ears 11. The lower end of each rod 14 is-somewhat flattened and widened, being provided with a projection 16 at one side and with an arm 17 at the opposite side, the same being adapted to strike against the heads of the screws 13 at the limits of the. i

rocking movements of the rods 14 as is evident. A cross head 18 is mounted on and between the upperends of the rods 14 and may be adjustedto diiferent positions thereon by means of the nuts 19, one being located Like reference characters refer vto like both above andone below the head 18 on each rod 14. The cross head carries a squeezing head below it, which squeezing head is adapted to be moved from the full line position, shown in Fig. 1.l to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, wherein it is directly over the flask containing the mold as will later appear. When the squeezing head is not used it is moved to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 wherein it is out of the way.

In the cylinder 2 a piston 21 is mounted for vertical movements, being equipped near its lower end with suitable ring ackings and having a lower end 22 concavedp at its under side to correspond to the convexity of the part 3 previously described. From the lower end 22 a projecting portion or large boss 23 extends upwardly, the upper end of which is recessed and in which a hardened p1atev24 may be seated. The cylinder 21 adjacent its upper end is formed Awith a heavy cross member 25 and between its ends with a narrower reinforcing cross member 26. A smaller cylinder 27 passes downwardly through the cross members 25 and 26, at its lower end being received in the recess in boss 23 and bearing against and holding plate 24 inplace. The upper end of the cylinder 27 is closed by a second heavier hardened plate 28, as shown, and within said cylinder between the plate 24 and 28 a body 29 is loosely mounted for travel back and forth between the upper and lower plates. This body may be formed with upper and lower hardened projections so that the same will not be damaged by striking againstl the hardened plates 24 and 28.

At the upper end of the piston 21 a table is secured, comprising a lower member 30 which fits into the upper projecting end of the piston above the cross member 25, and an upper larger table member 31 integrally formed with the member 30 and connected thereto by a vertical heavy web 32. Extending downwardly from the upper table member 31 at spaced apart points are two bosses 33, the table member 31 at the upper ends of said bosses being formed with recesses 34. An elongated rod having a head 36 at its lower end passes upwardly through the bushing in each of the lugs 7 heretofore described, the upper end of the rod passing through the bosses 33 and having a nut at its upper end received within the recess '34. There are two of the rods 35, one for each of the lugs 7, and it is evident that with the upward movement of the piston 21 and elevation of the table, the rods 35 move upwardly until stopped by engagement of heads 36 on the rods against the under sides of the lugs 7, this serving as a safety stop for the apparatus. Projecting downwardly from the u per table member 31 at four different points are solid bosses 37 which, when the table is at its lower position, bear against the upper ends of the coiled springs 6. These springs serve as spring bumpers or shock absorbers to check downward movement of the piston andattached table when the same have approached nearly to their lowermost positions; the springs also function in the jarring operation as later described.

On the upper side of the table 31 the pattern board 38 may be located, the pattern 39 which may be of any desired character being located above the board 38. A stripping plate 40 provided with down-turned flanges 41 lies on the table 31, the upper surface of the plate 40 being in the same plane with the upper surface of the pattern board 38. This plate 40 at opposite sides has downwardly extending integral projections 42 coming one over each cylinder 8 and an elongated piston 43 is attached to the lower end of each projection 42 and enters the cylinder 8 directly below. Guide pins 44 for the flask 45 are connected to and extend upwardly from the plate 40, the flask being formed with outwardly extending lower ears or flanges which have openings to receive the pins 44 whereby the flask is located on and held against movement with respect to the plate 40, as is evident.

The piston 21 in addition to the cross members 25 and 26 is formed with a plurality of interior radial reinforcing vanes 46 and an additional vane 47, having greater thickness than the parts 46. Attached to the piston adjacent its upper end and directly opposite the, vane 47 is a valve housing 48, a portion of the cylinder 2 being cut away so as to permit this attachment of the casing to the piston 21. Within the valve casing is an air control valve 49, the specific construction of which is old and which, as it specifically forms no part of the present invention, is not described in detail. It is sufficient to say that it is a well-known type of automatic air control valve used with pneumatic hammers or the like. The valve casing at the upper end of the valve is provided with an inlet port 50 which joins and is in alignment with a similar port 51 extending through the part 47 and the cylinder 27 at the upper end thereof. The casing 48 also has a lower inlet port 52 which joins with a port or passage 53 through the part 47 to the lower end of the cylinder 27. The casing 48 also has an exhaust port 54 connecting with an exhaust port or passage 55 passing through said part 47 to the cylinder, there being two exhaust openings 5.5it in the side of the cylinder joining with the passage 55. And the casing 48 has an exhaust outlet 54a in its side opposite the port 54. The valve 49 is placed in a suitable opening in the casing 48 and held therein by the nut 56 which closes the lower end of the opening, compressed air being carf'piston reaches its uppermost position, as

ried through the hose 57 and to the lower end of the valve within the easing 48.

The operation of the valve is such that air is alternately carried to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 27 above and below the vibrating body 29 thus serving to force said body downward and upward alternately. As a result said body 29 strikes with considerable force against the plates 24 and 28 thereby jarring the table on which the fiask is carried, and sand within the flask is thereby jarred and condensed particularly in the lower portions of the lask and closely packed around the pattern. This vibration will continue as long as air is supplied through the hose 57 and the vibration and jarring of the sand may be carried to any desired degree. It is evident, as the valve casing 48 is connected to the piston and moves therewith, that the jarring may continue not only when the piston is at its lowermost position but also during the time that it is being elevated or after it has reached elevated or squeezing position. 1n fact it is the intention that such jarring shall be carried out during the squeezing process, the sand in the upper part of the mold being then held against upward movement` and much better moldingresults and effects obtained.

Air `is also adapted to be carried to the lower end of the cylinder 2 to a point below 'the piston 22 through a pipe 59. It is evident that when the air is thus introduced into the cylinder, the piston1 table and flask will be moved upwardly and, with the squeezing head 2O properly located directly over the flask, as shown in Fig. 4, when the shown in Fig. 5, the squeezing head 2O will have,acted on the looser and less compact sand in the upper part of the flask, squeezing and condensing it to the proper density.

The control of the compressed air to the valve casing 48 or to the lower end of the cylinder 2 is governed by manually operable valves. At one side of the machine a valve casing 60 is located, being mounted at the upper endy of any suitable supporting post indicated at 60a in Fig. 1. This cas-ing (see Fig. 3) has an opening lengthwise therethrough, indicated at 61, and compressed air from the main supply tank is carried into said casing and to said opening through any suitable pipe. such as 62, shown in Figs. 2

and 3. Two valves63 are mounted to turn about vertical axes, one adajcent each end of the casing 60 and the same are adapted to be manually turned by means of the han-v around the valve. It is evident that by I turning the valve controlled by handle 64 from the position shown in Fig. 3 in clockwise direction, a free passage will be made for compressed air to pass through the pipe 59; and that when turned back to the position shown in Fig. 3, a passage is made to the outside for the exhaust of the air from below the piston 22 outwardly through said pipe 59. Likewise the valve 63 controlled by the handle 65 may be turned so thatair may pass through the hose 57 to the valve casing 48 for the purpose of operating the body 29 and, when turned back to the position shown in Fig. 3, the air will be cut oil and the vibration of the body stopped; while any air left in the hose 57 or in the mechanism which it has supplied with compressed air, can exhaust outwardly.

The valve casing 60 is also provided with an opening 66 to carry air to a second auxiliary valve casing 67 in which a valve controlled by the handle 68 may be mounted so as to direct air to either ol the pipes 69 and 70 connected with the casing 67. The pipe 69 leads to the upper end of a rylinder 71 tiltably mounted at its lower end on the base 1 of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, while the pipe 70 leads to the lower end thereof. A. piston rod 72 projects outwardly from the cylinder 71, being equipped with a suitable piston at its lower end and is connected atits upper end to the arm 17 j on the rod 14. lt is evident that by means of the valve controlled by the handle 68 air may be directed to either the upper or lower end of the cylinder 71 so as to move the squeezing head 20 to either its operative position` shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, or to its operative position7 shown in full lines. This construction. however, is not a particularly essential feature ot the present invention but is shown as indicating a method by which the squeezing head may be operated to and from operative position by compressed air, which is used for the jarring operation and also for the squeezing operations performed on the mold. 1n fact, while it is not fully shown nor described, it is intended that when the mold is completed and is to be stripped trom the pattern, air shall be entered into the cylinders 8 at their lower ends below the pistons 43, whereupon the stripping plate 4() carrying the flask 48 and the mold therein will be elevated while the pattern remains in lower position, thus drawing the mold from the pattern.

The construction described makes use of compressed air for performing all the operations necessary to make a complete mold jarring and this condensing the molding sand around the pattern in the lower part of the flask, and squeezing and condensing the sand in the upper part of the flask, both being operable independently of each other? or together. Time is saved by operating both together and. as before stated, with a better and more uniform density of the sand in the mold. The shock absorbers provided by the springs 6 insure .against a'nyheavy jar on the return of the piston and table to lower position. Such springs also re-act against the jar produced on the downward stroke of the jarring body 29. It is contemplated that the hardened plates, against which the body 29 strikes, may be of different dcgrees of hardness so that the jar in either direction produced by the moving body 29 may be partially softened, depending upon which of the plates is of the softer material. This is desirable particularly in case that the blow of the moving body against a plate should result in destructive effects. On the downward movement of the body 29 and with the mechanism supported by the springs 6 a jar is produced together' with a greater compression of the springs which condenses the sand in the mold as well as on the upper movement of the body when it strikes the upper hardened plate, that is, if the apparatus is in lower position. When the apparatus has been elevated to squeezing position and the sand is compressed between the squeezing head and the pattern and pattern board, the jar produced on the upward movement of the body 29 effects a very rapid and homogeneous condensing of the sand of the mold, while the jar pro duced on the lower movement of the body is less effective for practical results, in which case the lower plate, against which the part 29 strikes, should be of the softer material to deaden the effects of the blow. These features of the apparatus combined with its flexibility of use, that is with a jarring and condensing of the sand when in lower position, during the time that it is moving upwardly. or in upper squeezing position combine to make it one of great utility, particularly as when raised to upper position and with the introduction of air into the cylinders 8 to hold the stripping plate in upper position, an automatic drawing of the pattern from the mold is attained with the downward movement of the piston and the table and pattern carried thereby, which d'ownward movement must occur in any case, thereby effecting a drawing of the pattern from the mold without loss of time in a separate time consuming operation therefor.

The construction described is very practical and with it quantity production of molds can be readily attained. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered as comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A molding apparatus comprising a support, a table on which a pattern and flask may be carried located at the upper end of the support, a cylinder positioned vertically below the table, a jarring body mounted to freely traverse the cylinder', and pneumatic means for operating said body back and forth in the cylinder whereby the same impac-ts against and jars the table, sand within said fiask being condensed by said jarring, said table being stationary while said jarring body is moving back and forth in the cylinder. y

2. In a molding machine a vertical support, a table located at the upper end of the support, a vertical c linder carried by the support directly un er the table, a body mounted in the cylinder adapted to freely reciprocate therein below said table, and means to alternately yconduct air to the upper and lower ends of said cylinder whereby the body is moved up and down in the cylinder and strikes against the table to jar the same, said table being stationary during movements of the body.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a vertical support, a cylinder positioned vertically within the support, hardened plates at the upper and lower ends of said cylinder, a table carried at the upper end of the support and lying against the upper plate, a body loosely mounted in the cylinder between the plates, and pneumatic means for moving said body back and forth in the cyl- 4inder whereby the same strikes against said plates at the ends of its movements in the cylinder, jarring the table, substantially as described.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a

vertical support, a vertical cylinder mounted within the support, a table carried at the upper end of the support and at the upper end of the cylinder, plates at the ends of the cylinder, the upper plate lying directly under and in contact with the table, a relatively heavy cylindrical body mounted in the cylinder adapted to move upwardly when compressed air is entered into the cylinder under the body and downwardly when it is entered into the cylinder above the body, and means for supplying compressed air to the cylinder alternately at opposite ends thereof, substantially as described.

5. In combination, a table adapted to carry a pattern and flask around the pattern, a cylinder head located vertically under the table, a relatively heavy cylindrical body mounted for free movement in the cylinder and. adapted to move back and forth in the same, and means for alternately introducing air into the cylinder at opposite ends thereof to reciprocate said body, substantially as described.

6. In combination, a base, a relatively large cylinder extending upwardly from the base, a relatively large piston mounted 1n the cylinder for vertical movements, a table carried at the upper end of the piston, a second smaller cylinder located within the piston and lpositioned vertically, the upper end of the second cylinder being adjacent the lower side of the table, a body mounted for reciprocating movements in the cylinder, pneumatic means for alternately lifting and dropping said body whereby the same jars the table, and means for introducing compressed air at the lower end of the larger cylinder to thereby elevate the piston and the table carried thereby.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a base` a cylinder extending upwardly from the base, a piston mounted in the cylinder, a. table carried at the upper end of the piston on which a pattern and a tlask around the pattern may be carried, said cylinder having a plurality of outwardly extending lugs thereon, pins secured toand extending from said lugs, coil springs seated on the lugs around the pins and at their upper ends extending beyond the upper ends of the pins, bosses on the table extending downwardly therefrom adapted to bear on the upper end oi'f said springs in the lowerinost position of said cylinder and table, a squeezing head located above the flask and means for carrying compressed air to the lower end of the cylinder below the piston to thereby elevate said piston and flask carried thereon to the squeezing head, substantially as described.

8. In a construction of the class described, a vertical cylinder having a bottom therein and open at its upper end, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a. table carried at the upper end of the piston, a second smaller cylinder located vertically within the piston, a plate at the upper end of the smaller cylinder directly against which the table bears, a body in the smaller cylinder mounted for free movement back and forth therein, a valve casing attached at one side of the piston, there being inlet ports leading from said casing to the upper and lower ends of the smaller cylinder and an outlet port leading from intermediate portions of the smaller piston to the valve casing, a valve automatically operated by compressed air to alternately direct the compressed air into the upper and lower ends of the smaller cylinder, means for conducting compressed air to said valve casing, and means for conducting compressed air to the lower end of the larger cylinder, vsubstantially as described.-

9. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 8 combined with manually operable valves for controlling the passage of air both to said valve casing and to the lower end of the larger piston, substantially as described.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a vertical support, a table mounted at the upper end of the support, a cylinder carried within said support below the table, said cylinder being positioned vertically with its upper end located adjacent the lower side of the table, a body mounted in the cylinder adapted to move back and forth therein, a valve Lcasing attached at a side of the support, there being inlet ports leading therefrom to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder, and an exhaust outlet leading from the intermediate portion of the cylinder to said casing, a valve mounted in the valve casing automatically operated by compressed air to alternately direct compressed air through said inlet ports to the upper and lower ends of the cylinder, and means for conducting compressed air to said valve casinc.

ril. 'In apparatus of the class described.l a support, a table mounted at the upper end of the support, a relatively heavy body moyably mounted for free movement within said support below the table, and pneumatic means for alternately raising and lowering said body whereby the same may strike against the table to jar and vibrate the same, said table being stationary during the movements of said body.

12. In apparatus of the 'character described, a vertical cylinder, a piston mounted therein, lugs extending outwardly from the cylinder, yielding means carried on said lugs a table fixed. to the upper end of the piston having downwardly extending bosses resting on said yielding means` .a smaller cylinder positioned vertically within the piston, the upper end thereof lying closely adjacent the lower side of the table, a heavy body mounted for movements back and forth in the smaller cylinder and adapted to strike against the lower side of the table on its upward movement and against the lower end of the piston on its downwardniovement, and pneumatic means for moving said body back and forth in the smaller cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DONALD J CAMPBELL.

fao 

